Railroad tie, beam, or post.



CHARLES K. MOHLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILROAD TIE, BEAM, OR POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 19. 1904. Serial No. 208.759.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. MOHLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Tie, Beam, or Post, of which the following isa description and specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification.

Reference being had to the accompanying draWings,-Figure l is a sideelevation, Fig. 2 is an end view and Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of thetie; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the center of the tie,showing holes Where top fastening for rail is to be used; Fig. 5 is asection through C D of Figs. l, 4 and 6. Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection through G fI of Figs. 2 and 8. Fig. 7 is a half section on A Bof Figs. l and 6 and one half section on E F of Figs. 1, 4 and 6. Fig.

8 is a half section on C D of Figs. 1, 4 and 6.-

Fig. 9 is a section through a modified form. Fig` 10 is a sectionthrough a modified form. Fig. ll is a section through a modified form.

In each of the several gures R represents the rail. T represents thebody ofthe tie proper. l) represents the cushion block interposedbetween the rail and tie.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

The invention consists essentially of: the framework or body of the tie,beam, or post, T as shown in the several gures. The body or framework ofthe tie, beam, or post, may be constructed of any material which can beformed into such shape and consistency as to offer resistance toYcrushing; to lleXure or cross bending extension or compression along itslongitudinal aXis 5 abrasion; and to the undue destructive ordisintegrating force of the elements. It may be constructed of suchmaterial as metal, the material known as concrete, terra cotta or burntclay, etc. It is provided with suitable openings for the insertion ofrail 4fastenings and reinforcing rods. The holes for rail fastenings areshown at X in Figs. l, 6 and 7, and at Y in Fig. 4. The holes for theinsertion of the reinforcing rods or bars are shown at K in Figs. 5, 6,7, S, 9, l0 and l1. The holes K are provided with suitable bearingsurfaces so as to receive bearing plates or washers for securing andholding in position the reinforcing rods or bars.. The inside surface ofthe holes may be rough or smooth. Holes may be provided, however,through which there may not be any reinforcing bars placed. The sidesmay be provided with grooves as shown at M, Figs. 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11.If desirable the body may be used without reinforcing bars or rods.

Reinforcing bars or rods of steel or other suitable material are shownat S in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and ll. There may be one or morereinforcing bars or rods as shown in the abovenamed figures.v Figs. 5,6, 7 and 8 show what is perhaps the preferred form. The reinforcing barsor rods are provided with nuts and washers or any other suitable meansfor securing and holding the same in position. The rods of themselvesmay be plain and smooth or provided with projections, or roughenedsurface so as to increase the holding power on the embedding or coveringmaterial. It is the intention in the preferred form of the invention tohave the reinforcing rods placed under initial tension byv turning upthe nuts, or adjusting what other fastenings may be employed, toaccomplish that end, so as to produce an initial compression in theframework or body of the tie, beam, or post, before the cementing orbinding material has set or hardened. The washers for the reinforcingrods are shown at W in Figs. 4 and 6. The nut N is shown in Fig. 6. Theenlarged hole for admitting the washer, etc. is shown at L in Figs. 6and 7.

The covering or embedding material for preserving the reinforcing rodsand bonding the same to the inclosing walls of the hole through the tie,beam, or post body isshown at K in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and 11. Theembedding or bonding material may be of cement mortar, concrete, orother suitable material. Before placing the cementing or bindingmaterial around the reinforcing rods, the nuts or other fastenings, areadjusted so as to produce the required initial tension in thereinforcing rods. The embedding material is then poured in through ahole left in the washer W' shown in Fig. 6, and manipulated so as tothoroughly fill the space between the rods and the walls of the holesthrough which they pass. The enlarged holes beyond the ends of thereinforcing rods are then filled with the same or other suitablematerial so as to effectually seal the opening and bind and retain therods in position. The same being shown at L in Figs. 6 and 7.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907'.

The holes for securing the rail fastenings are shown at X in Figs.' 6and 7, and. Y in Fig. 4. The preferred form is that shown at X in Figs.6 and 7. It is intended to furnish a hole for the passage of an anchorbolt through the tie or of the passage of a hook bolt through to theopen hole Z. The hole X may be circular or elongated in section. In theholes for f-astenings shown at Y in Fig. 4, the hole is wider near theouter edge of the tie to allow of some lateral play to afford anadjustment of the rail to the proper track gage. (The type of fasteningsuitable for the preferred form. is that shown in the specifications anddrawings for a railroad rail and tie fastening, the application forLetters Patent on which was filed April 14th, 1904, and numbered Seriesof 1900 No. 203171.) The cushion blocks b are shown in Figs. 1,*3 and 4.The cushion blocks are constructed of wood or any other suitablematerial and inserted between the base of the track rail and the top ofthe tie to prevent injury to the tie from shock and jars, and to preventabrasion of the tie.

The object of my invention is: to produce a railroad tie, beam, or post,which will give greater resistance to the disintegrating and destructiveim'iuence of time and the elements; a tie possessing good strength andof considerable size and weight 3 a tie that will afford a secure andready means of fastening the rail to the same, and a convenientarrangement for bringing the rails to proper track gage. By means of thefurrow or groove along the side of the tie shown in Figs. 2, 5, 7, 8, l0and 1l, greater bearing surface is obtained than with the rectangularform. It will also afford an additional hold on the ballast to keep thetie from rising, as a result of the wave motion in the rail caused bythe rolling load. Used as a beam or post the design can be employed inbuilding and fireproof construction, etc. In addition, as a post, it canbe used in foundation work and for fencing purposes.

By the use of such material as terra-cotta or burnt clay, cast iron,concrete, etc., in the construction of the framework or body of the tie,beam or post, great resistance will be offered to the destructive actionof the elements. Unfortunately materials which have the best lasting"quality, and the cost of which is not prohibitive for track use, arewanting in the requisite tensile strength. To make up for this defect itis necessary lto supply the required tensile strength by introducingreinforcing bars of iron, steel or some other suitable material. In thetie, beam, or post, I have designed the body or framework is composed inthe preferred form of vitrified clay and salt glazed. suitable materialmay however be used, the same being of the form substantially as setforth in the description and drawings. The

nally through the tie, beam, or post.

Any other body or framework of the tie, beam, or post,

having been formed, the reinforcing rods are inserted with the properwashers and nuts.

It is an essential principle of this invention that the body orframework of the tie, beam, or post, shall be so constructed as toreceive the reinforcing rods, with their proper fastening, and to resistthe initial tensionproduced in the reinforcing rods, produced by thetightening up of the nuts or other fastenings, to produce the desiredstrain. Theobject of putting the reinforcing rods under initial tensionis to produce an equal and opposite compressive stress in the body orframework of the tie, beam, or post. By this means the tensile strengthof the tie, beam, or post, can be made to very nearly balance thecompressive strength. Then by placing the body or frame of the tie,beam, or post, under compression, cracks will not be likely to developuntil the elastic limit of the reinforcing rods has been passed on thetension side. y

The holes for receiving the reinforcing bars and fastenings are made ofsufficient size tol admit of a thorough covering of the reinforcing barsand fastenings with the cementing and binding material. By the use ofcorrugations or a rough surface for the reinforcing bar and the insidewalls of the hole, they will be prevented from slipping on the cementingor binding material and will be made to act as a unit to resist strain.

The reinforcing bars are placed parallel to the longitudinal aXis of thetie, beam, or post, or as nearly so as may be found expedient. Thereinforcing bars may run clear through the entire length of the tie,beam, or post, or only part way through as shown in the drawings.

Open holes may be left running longitudi- That will be a means ofreducing weight if found desirable, and will facilitate the burning ofthe vitrified vclay tie, beam, or post, etc.

The reinforcing bars are to be of such size and shape as best to servethe purpose for which they are intended. They are to be placed in theposition inthe body of the tie, beam, or post, arranged to receive them.

After being placed in position they are to be given an initial tension,the'object of which is as above set forth.

In the use of a railroad tie such as I have invented a much more lastingand substantial track construction shouldv be obtained than can be hadwith the ordinary wooden claim the use of reinforcing bars broadly; but

That I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The combination in a railroad tie, beam, or post, of an integral partknown as the tie, beam, or post body, or framework, composed ofvitrified clay, or other suitable material, of an elongated forni,having longitudinal holes for the reception of reinforcing rods or bars,andtransverse holes suitable for the reception of the rail fastenings,together with one or more longitudinal reinforcing bars or rods providedwith suitable nuts and washers or other fastenings, the same beinginserted in the holes running lengthwise of the tie, beam, or post bodyand securely fastened thereto, and tightened up so as to be in acondition of initial tension before the binding material has hardened,and remain under a condition of initial tension after the entirecombination for the tie, beam, or post,

is completed, and produce an opposite condition of initial compressivestress in the particles of the tie, beam, or post body, the reinforcingbars or rods being embedded in and covered and cemented in with acementing or binding material composed 0f cement mortar, or othersuitable material, the body or framework of the tie, beam, or post,being held in a condition of compression as a result of the initialtension on the reinforcing bars, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES K. MOHLER. Vitnesses:

JEAN D. FANCHER, VINIFRED FANCHER DONLY.

